Gestures: The Study of Religion as Practice

Gestures: The Study of Religion as Practice offers a new perspective on religion as a lived experience, examining diverse phenomena such as human rights, memory, martyrdom, dress and fashion, colonial legacies, blasphemy, mass political action, and the future of secularism through the lens of practice.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 688 pages
Publication date: 14 July 2022
Publisher: Fordham University Press

The concluding volume of the Future of the Religious Past series, "Gestures: The Study of Religion as Practice," offers a fresh perspective on contemporary religion by focusing on the rituals, performances, devotions, and everyday acts through which humans engage in religious practices. Despite predictions about the inevitable decline of secularism, religion continues to thrive in the twenty-first century, and "Gestures" provides a valuable lens through which to view religion as a category shaped and reshaped by modernity.

Twenty-four internationally renowned scholars contribute to this volume, exploring a wide range of topics related to religion. They examine human rights, memory, martyrdom, dress and fashion, colonial legacies, blasphemy, mass political action, and the future of secularism. By examining religion through the lens of practice, the authors challenge traditional notions of religion as a set of doctrines and sacred texts and instead present it as a lived experience.

The chapters in "Gestures" offer insightful analyses of various religious practices and their impact on society. For example, in the chapter on human rights, the authors discuss how religious beliefs and practices have been used to justify human rights violations and how religious leaders have played a role in promoting human rights. In the chapter on memory, the authors explore how religious rituals and practices can shape and preserve memories of historical events and how they can be used to promote reconciliation and healing.

The book also highlights the challenges that religion faces in the modern world. For example, in the chapter on colonial legacies, the authors discuss how religious institutions have been used to justify colonialism and how they have contributed to the perpetuation of inequality and oppression. In the chapter on blasphemy, the authors explore how religious beliefs and practices can be used to justify violence and how they can be challenged by secularists.

Despite these challenges, "Gestures" also offers a sense of hope for the future of religion. The authors argue that religion can be a force for good in the world if it is practiced in a way that promotes human rights, promotes reconciliation, and promotes social justice. They suggest that religious leaders and communities can work together to address these challenges and create a more inclusive and equitable society.

In conclusion, "Gestures: The Study of Religion as Practice" is a valuable contribution to the field of religious studies. It offers a fresh perspective on contemporary religion by focusing on the rituals, performances, devotions, and everyday acts through which humans engage in religious practices. By examining religion through the lens of practice, the authors challenge traditional notions of religion as a set of doctrines and sacred texts and instead present it as a lived experience. The chapters in the book offer insightful analyses of various religious practices and their impact on society, and they also highlight the challenges that religion faces in the modern world. Despite these challenges, "Gestures" also offers a sense of hope for the future of religion if it is practiced in a way that promotes human rights, promotes reconciliation, and promotes social justice.

Weight: 1274g
Dimension: 178 x 254 x 40 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780823299621